Three Lions on a shirt and a reporter’s foot well and truly in his mouth
Sometimes in TV news there are moments which make you do a double-take. Usually, it’s the story that catches your eye, but last night’s Midlands Today was something special because it was the reporter who made me take a second glance.
The story of Nicola Payne, the Coventry woman missing from her home for more than 20 years, was leading the bulletin and following a package on the latest developments in the hunt for her, the studio went live to a reporter on the scene.
Peter Wilson reporting from Coventry
Now, there are plenty of examples of writing for broadcasting which is bad and plenty which is clumsy, but linking the anguish of parents waiting to see if their daughter’s body had been found to the nerves England fans were experiencing in the build up to the Ukraine game was baffling, offensive and thoughtless all in one.
The moment comes about 3mins 52secs in on the BBC iPlayer for those of you who catch it before the Beeb removes all trace of this epic balls-up. But for those who don’t, here’s the transcript from Peter Wilson’s report:
“Well it’s a highly emotional day around this estate. Everyone has their England flags out and if you think about a simple football match and how millions of people are going to be watching that match, biting their finger nails, their stomachs churning. Well this family have had 20 years of hurt. In fact, Nicola’s parents John and Marilyn, have been waiting 20 years seven months and five days. They’ve had lots of false dawns, hope and bitter disappointments. Behind me, the police are looking for human remains, they are looking for Nicola’s body.”
Given some of the criticism BBC reporting has been given in recent times, it’ll be interesting to see what the response is to such a monumentally inappropriate piece of broadcasting.
Category: Journalism
Perhaps this might have been better expressed – it’s live after all – but it’s powerful, relevant and doesn’t worry me in the least. The contrast between the emotions of a ‘simple’ football match and real tragedy is the point being made. Pete Wilson is a quality reporter and doesn’t deserve this sort of snide comment from an amateur pundit. I’m confident the BBC will not remove it and even if they had complaints, they should stand by their man. It’s in no way inappropriate – but it is a bold and accurate description of the situation he observed in Coventry, and reflects the view of many who were there. His underlying sense of fair play also meant he checked that the comments did not offend the missing woman’s parents. Did the blogger do the same before his tirade of cheap abuse about a reporter they have trusted for 20 years? Ethically, I’d suggest that’s more of an epic balls-up from a self-appointed arbiter of taste than anything Peter Wilson has done in a distinguished career.
It’s a game of opinions, Gary, as you well know. And the clue to this one sits below the site title – news and views (of mine). Hence the fact I felt it was inappropriate – if you re-read it I didn’t suggest it was offensive to the family in question, merely that I felt it was. But as an ‘amateur pundit’ what would I know, eh?
Mind you, I’m not quite sure why you’re quite so defensive on this one. Might there be something we don’t know? From conversations with others who have more expertise in the area than myself in your eyes, your response is even more surprising, as they have all been shocked by this one.
I don’t doubt the reporter is well-respected etc, etc (and I don’t think I ever suggested he wasn’t), but my opinion is every bit as valid as a viewer, is it not?
And as for the parting line, thanks: I may use “self-appointed arbiter of taste” as my title in future.
Gary Hudson takes controversial stance shcok!!!!!! Seriously Gazza you have the wrong end of the stick on this one. If this is how you defend this bloke heaven help anyone who disses Springsteen!!!!!!
Given that I started by saying this might have been better expressed (i.e. it wasn’t done very well), I can see why people were baffled or even offended. I simply think the original criticism was over the top and Peter Wilson has suffered a ‘Born in the USA moment’ with Ross Hawkes and his mysterious ‘others’ cast as Ronald Reagan – a comparison which I hope they’ll enjoy! ‘Former student’ should be satisfied that I conform to ‘Springsteen-obsessive’ type with that analogy, though I disown him/her for ‘shcok’, for the OTT punctuation and for not having the guts etc… Bring on your wrecking ball.